Police Response: Henry Nowak Family Accuses Force of Manipulation

The family of Henry Nowak, the 18-year-old student stabbed to death in Southampton, stated on Monday that police misled and manipulated them during the investigation into his death. His parents alleged that officers provided conflicting accounts of the night events and failed to administer immediate first aid despite Nowak’s visible injuries.

Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, described a shifting narrative during his interactions with investigators. He told ITV News that initial claims stated officers administered first aid upon arrival. That account later changed to say officers detained everyone present, then shifted to claim only Henry was detained. The final version indicated that officers handcuffed Henry and placed him under arrest. Mark Nowak said this evolution shocked the family and made them feel hoodwinked.

Katie Nowak, Henry’s stepmother, said the family felt failed on multiple occasions. She expressed fear that decisions were made to protect the police reputation rather than assist the family during their darkest hour. The family also noted that the Independent Office for Police Conduct, or IOPC, initially told them in April that no Hampshire police officers would face conduct or criminal investigations because no concerns were identified regarding officer actions.

Nowak was killed by Vickrum Digwa in December 2025 as he walked home from a night out. Digwa stabbed Nowak and then falsely accused him of racial abuse. Bodyworn camera footage showed Nowak repeatedly telling an officer, “I’ve been stabbed,” to which the officer replied, “Don’t think you have, mate.” Nowak was handcuffed while bleeding to death. Digwa was jailed for life earlier this year.

Lucy Ross, Henry’s mother, questioned why police dismissed her son’s pleas for help. She said Nowak told officers nine times that he could not breathe and had been stabbed. “Why, why’ve you just … ‘Don’t think you have mate’?” she asked. “And then handcuff him. Why was Henry so dismissed and treated so badly?”

Alexis Boon, the chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, apologized for the force’s handling of the incident. “I am incredibly sorry that in his final moments, when he needed us most, we failed him,” Boon told ITV News. He acknowledged that the family had raised serious concerns about the police response and their treatment throughout the investigation.

The IOPC is currently investigating the case. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has also launched a review to examine whether opportunities were missed to prevent the murder. Derrick Campbell, the IOPC director of engagement, said the office is committed to establishing the full circumstances. He added that the IOPC aims to determine if any officers should face disciplinary proceedings and to provide the family with answers about why Henry was treated in the manner he was on the night of his death.

The family revealed that less than two months after the IOPC’s initial statement in April, Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary was forced to apologize for its actions. The formal apology followed public outcry over the bodyworn camera footage and the conflicting statements provided to the family.